Plot Diagram Activity - Story Elements Slides & Roller Coaster Reading Challenge
In this theme park-inspired plot diagram activity, students become roller coaster designers tasked with matching six stories to the coaster blueprints that best represent their plot structures! Before they begin designing, the included presentation introduces the parts of the plot diagram, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, and explores how stories can sometimes break the usual pattern. Then, it’s time to build the roller coasters! Students work collaboratively to read six high-interest story synopses, analyze the progression of each plot, and match each story to one of six unique roller coaster blueprints. Teams use evidence from the stories and diagrams to defend their matches and demonstrate their understanding of plot structure.
This is included in a full-year program:
→ The ELA Games Program
Included in This Roller Coaster Plot Diagram Activity and Lesson:
➡️ Roller Coaster Plot Diagram Activity Teacher Instructions: A detailed teacher guide provides everything you need to successfully run the activity in your classroom. It includes clear step-by-step instructions, an overview of how the activity works, guidance for leading students through each stage of the challenge, and details for completing the lesson from start to finish.
➡️ Roller Coaster Plot Elements Presentation Slides: Use the 20-slide PowerPoint presentation to guide your lesson on plot elements. The presentation introduces exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution with clear examples before exploring plot variations, such as stories that begin in the middle of the action, end on a cliff-hanger, or include multiple turning points. Also included are challenge instructions, answer slides for class review, and a discussion question for wrapping up the activity.
➡️ 6 Short Story Summaries: Students analyze six original, high-interest story summaries featuring everything from escaped velociraptors and a volcanic eruption to a haunted carnival and a deep-sea Kraken encounter. Each story follows a different plot structure, giving students the clues they need to determine which roller coaster blueprint best represents its events.
➡️ 6 Roller Coaster Blueprint Pages: Students examine six unique roller coaster blueprints labeled with different plot elements and match each one to the story whose structure it best represents. Teams record the matching story title and use evidence from both the story and coaster design to explain and defend their choices.
➡️ Roller Coaster Plot Diagram Activity Answer Keys: Complete sample answer keys are included, making it easy to review each match and guide students through how the events in each story connect to the plot elements shown on its roller coaster blueprint.
If you like this plot diagram activity, you’ll love this resource:
→ A Year of English Bell Ringers
© Presto Plans
➡️ Want 10 free ELA resources sent to your inbox? Click here!
